Middlings-purifier



T. D. ISBELL. Middlings-Purifier.

No. 225,753. Patented Mar. 23, I880.

Invent r 5 N-PETERS. WASHINGYON, D. C.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE"- MlDDLiNGS-PURIFIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,753, dated March 23, 1880, Application fileTNovember 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. IsBELL, of Ukiah, county of Mendocino and State of California, have invented an Improved Middlings- Purifier; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in middlings-purifiers; and my improvements consist in a certain peculiar arrangement of the draft openings and tubes in a purifier in which the material drops upon oppositely-inclined alternating shelves, by which the lighter particles are separated from the heavier in a uniform and rapid manner, as is 1 5 morefully describedin the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections of my invention.

In a suitably-formed inclosing-case, F, having a hopper, G, is placed a series of oppositely-inclined alternating shelves, 0, which do not extend quite across, but leave openings or at their lower ends, as shown. These shelves are attached to diaphragms B, and check plates or stops Aare arranged to extend at an angle at the lower end of each shelf, which checks the flow of material down the shelf and directs it on the upper end of the next one.

This construction leaves a tube or passage, 7), at the upper end of each shelf, extending into the main tube E on each side of the inclosingcase, so that the drafts of air from the airholes D may draw or blow the lighter and more worthless substances into the tube E, as hereinafter described.

On each side of the case, and connecting with the tubes E, are placed pockets or receptacles 1?, having flap-doors p, to catch the heaviest of the light stufi, the remainder of this passing down the passages H to the fan L.

The operation of my device is as follows: The middlings are fed into the case through the hopper, and fall shelf 0. As they slide down this by their own gravity they reach the openinga, beingchecked there by the check plates or stops A, which direct them onto the top of the next shelf. As they fall through the opening a on their way to the top of the next shelf they must pass through the current of air passing out of onto the first inclined l the tube or opening b into the main tube E. This air-current is inducedby the fan-blower or suction device L, entering the openings D, and thence, through the opening I), upward through the tube E, through the pocket P, and down the tubes or passages H, as indicated by the arrows. This air-current draws the light stuff from the middlings as it crosses the passage 1), while the iniddlings themselves pass down the series of shelves, the purifying 6o operation being repeated as many times as there are shelves. The light material drawn outthrough the passage 11 goes upward-through the passage or tube E, and thence into the pocket. Here the heaviest of this light stuff is arrested and lodges in the bottom until weight enough has accumulated to open the flap-door, when it may be drawn off into sacks. The lightest, however, continues on with the current down the holes H to the fan, where it is discharged.

Grates S,at the bottom of the tubes E,regulate the air-current in said tubes, and the doors 1) are also regulatable, so as to increase or deorease the draft through the passage E.

A tube or spout, M, carries off the middlin gs after they leave the bottom shelf and are purifled.

It will be seen that the construct-ion of this device is quite simple, whileits operation will be regular and rapid. The regulation of the draft may be adjusted with great nicety. The middlings, in falling through the air-current at I), have the lighter material taken from them as they pass across this opening in a thin 8 5 sheet, being spread by the check-plates A. This operation may be repeated as often as desired until the middlings are thoroughly purified.

Having thus described my invention, what 0 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improvement in middlings-purifiers consisting in the oppositely-inclined alternatin g shelves 0 in an inclosing-case, F, said case 5 being provided with the diaphragms B and stop-plates A, with the openings at 1) leading from one shelf to the other and to the draft tubes E, said tubes connecting with the detaining-pockets P and discharge-opening H, 10

3. In combination with the ease F, having the separating-shelves C, with their openings a b. draft-tubes E H, and fan L, I), for regulating; the draft or bl tially as herein described.

the gates S 15 ast, substan- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS 1 Witnesses:

J. S. HART, F. BRUNNER, Jr.

ISBELLQ 

